Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current bilateral foot disorder, including plantar fasciitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to any disease or injury in service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and low back disability both claimed as secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus. The veteran is also assigned a 30% evaluation for his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and pes planus, finding that the February 1946 rating decisions were not the product of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the payment of additional compensation based on a dependent spouse, finding that no evidence was received within one year of notification and thus the earliest possible effective date is September 1, 1999.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, which is productive of hallux valgus and pain on manipulation and use.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for pes planus and increased evaluation for left knee disabilities.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals, injury to the mid and lower back from January 29, 1991 to November 8, 1994 or for bilateral pes planus from January 29, 1991 to November 8, 1994. The evaluation for postoperative residuals of the left shoulder was increased to 20 percent effective November 9, 1994.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's bilateral pes planus, finding that it was pronounced and met the criteria for such a rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory, neurological, and psychiatric disabilities, are denied as there is no direct evidence of these conditions in service or a link to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the service-connected genital herpes and plantar fasciitis, finding that symptoms are not controlled by continuous treatment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus and determined that his preexisting condition was aggravated during active duty, granting him service connection.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability does not prevent him from obtaining and retaining employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Therefore, he does not meet the basic entitlement requirements for Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, a skin disorder affecting the feet, and residuals of a status post mass on the left foot in April 1986. The decision found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and bilateral pes planus, as well as his claim of service connection for painful low back, legs, and knees secondary to service-connected pes planus. The RO was directed to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The veteran's left foot disability was incurred in service, and her heart murmur was not shown to be related to service. The other conditions were either not found or are presumed to have been caused by the veteran's active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus, characterized as 'severe' by examiners, does not warrant a higher disability evaluation due to lack of pronounced symptoms such as marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the Achilles tendon. The current 30 percent rating is appropriate given his symptoms including pain and swelling.

The veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions of the feet have produced an aggregate impairment equivalent to pronounced bilateral pes planus, warranting a rating of 50 percent.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment by VA of unauthorized medical treatment provided from February 5, 1998 to March 26, 1999 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.